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Thursday, October 20, 2011

L'Ami Louis!

Last night PBer Karen from South Africa invited me to dinner at bistroL'Ami Louis. We'd never met but she says she feels like she knows me.

Karen makes divine Ooh La La Artisan Confectionary like calissons, nougat and toffees - I know they're divine because I ate FOUR nougats on the Metro going home last night.

Her two daughters, Saffron and Scarlett (why did my mother name me plain-Jane Carol) joined us. They're tres bonne eleve - they drew, played games quietly through the meal. Only at the end did Scarlett fall asleep on the table.

Carol, i've been a faithful follower of your blog and also love all things French! I live in Cape Town and would love to know where I can buy Karen's confectionery. I trawl the local Saturday food markets and have not seen her produce, maybe I missed it. Thanks for your lovely painting - always a pleasure to read to your posts.

Wow. 2 celebrities in one day! And big time ones. I can't believe that L'ami Louis would serve the quail with the sauce splattered on the edge like that! That's some stack of frites too. I can't imagine Helen ate too many of hers! And Karen's confections look amazing. Well done you for only eating 4 on the way home!

I would go to l'Ami Louis for the frites alone. They look delicious! If I see a woman with a cute bear at the Salon du Chocolat, I'll know that it's you. As for me, I'll be the one whose mouth is covered with chocolat and who has a deliriously happy look on her face. Have fun!

You are just having the time of your life in Paris this time. Pays to meet up with your blog friends. :))I thought seeing LC yesterday was awesome but Helen too is really fab. You must have a small camera and taking photos on the sly down to a science. Thank you for sharing with us. This has been your best trip yet. :))

dommage i've never been to l'ami louis because it seems a bit viande intensif for my veggie husband but wow - looks like the place to go! karen's goodies look to die for and - HELEN MIRREN! you got great pics!

et oui les petites filles tellement sages.

i have a picture of Sir Paul Smith in Nopi but nowhere near as good! he turned away to admire his bottle of wine.......

You've done it again. Helen Mirren? Fabulous sighting and trust you to notice the Birken. So lovely to meet Karen today - Oh-là-là! Fantastic to meet someone that makes wonderful nougats and Calissons in SA, all thanks to you, Carol. Another super day today. You are SO funny!

Carol I have been so loving your trip so far and now with your fabulous meal at Louis L'Ami I am swooning. The plate of toast had me alone. and oh, Karen's dear girls make me thankful for mine own who have had to sit through a few grown-up dinners and intently sit drawing, or unintrusively playing with there little dolls...sleeping at the table, cute little things. Then of course spotting the RADIANT Helen Mirren..what a treat. And I too agree that if anyones wants there privacy they would probably not be in the midst of such a bustling well known locale. Thank you for sharing your adventures.

Cris, my camera is tiny and in the sidebar -a Canon S90 and infinitely discrete or I could never take ANY of the pictures I show on PB.

As for invasion of privacy, I'm sure Ms. Mirren knew I was taking some pictures and didn't care a fig. She certainly looked up when the Carole Bouquet look-alike was the object of my tiny focus. As it happens Ms. Mirrens sister was sitting a seat away from her. But I cut her out of the post pictures, since that in my opinion would be invasion of privacy in my books. It was clear they were sisters but Helen is obviously the showbiz star in the famille. Mille: I'm fairly veggie myself, but sometimes you have to just forgetaboutit. As for getting GREAT PICTURES of Mirren, she is VERY photogenic, that's why she does what she does. Her face is infinitely interesting and catches the light nicely. Julie: L'Ami Louis REEKS of atmosphere - if only they could cut it up and sell it...THANK YOU Karen!

You have made my morning! I love Helen Mirren and those Birkin bags. I do agree that the woman you thought was Carole Bouquet might be a bit too young. However, if you want a fun read, try Bringing Home the Birkin .

L'Ami Louis food & ambiance looks wonderful! You have solved my menu plan for tonight. I believe I will thaw some quail! Where to get Karen's treats? I want some of that nougat! How fun to get to meet followers of PB! I know what she means that she felt she knew you. I imagine a lot of PBers feel that way! after all you share NY,Paris,London, your art,Bear & sometimes celebs! Thanks!

I thought hanging it up on the wall was a rather clever way to keep an eye on it. Twice I left my camera today on a table at the Salon du Chocolat.Luckily others were kind to remind me. Keeping the head attached is another matter...

Just wanted to stop by and say "thanks" for all of the advice about the best way to visit the Salon du Chocolat. I had a wonderful time today. The dresses in the fashion show were amazing and the chocolate was divine. Who would have ever thought that I would get to the point of refusing chocolate samples by the end of the evening!

Her daughters are beautiful..and I adore their names also..Belle Helen Mirren.I love her!

Is it Carole Bouquet ..from the front I say..oui! The profile throws me..? Is it she? We watched a movie in the past year..she was in it..I cannot remember the name..I wish I could..only Isabelle Huppert movies are coming to my mind..it will come..

L'Ami Louis is infamous for being noted as the worst restaurant in the world. Read AA Gill's legendary review. I kind of agree with him. It has so many bad features that so many tourists seem to accept as 'hey it's Paris'. And boy it isn't cheap. I think the owners have long since given up caring and keep charging the bucks so long as But there are SO many more better places in Paris than this old dinosaur. You seem to have enjoyed yourself though.

Paris Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it, now tripping over cobblestones, living in a 6th-floor garret on l'Ile Saint-Louis, Paris. Read Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris breakfasts.